The following lists show each ministry and its term of office since 1901. The termination date of each ministry coincides with the date on which the Prime Minister submitted his resignation, and that of each of his ministers, to the Governor-General.

In a number of instances, however, such resignations have been the occasion for the Prime Minister of the day to ask the Governor-General for a commission to form a new ministry and thus remain in office. WM Hughes was the first Australian Prime Minister to follow this procedure, which he did on three separate occasions between 1915 and 1923.

With the swearing in of the Menzies Ministry on 11.1.1956, the practice was introduced whereby the Cabinet comprised some but not all members of the ministry. This practice was continued until the resignation of the McMahon Ministry on 5.12.1972.

When the Whitlam Ministry assumed office on 5.12.1972, all members of the ministry sat as members of the Cabinet, thus reverting to the original practice which existed prior to 1956.

With the swearing in of the Fraser Ministry on 22.12.1975, the practice was reintroduced whereby the Cabinet comprised some but not all members of the ministry. The practice has been continued by all subsequent ministries.

Minister in charge of Tourist Activities under the Minister for Trade and Industry

Chipp, DL

Treasurer

McMahon, W

Minister assisting the Treasurer

Howson, P

Minister for External Affairs

Hasluck, PMC

Minister for Defence

Fairhall, A

Minister for Primary Industry

Anthony, JD (CP)

Minister for Education and Science

Gorton, Senator JG

Postmaster-General

Hulme, AS

Vice-President of Executive Council

Hulme, AS

Minister for National Development

Fairbairn, DE

Minister for Supply

Henty, Senator NHD

Minister for Labour and National Service

Bury, LHE

Minister for Social Services

Sinclair, IMcC (CP)

Minister for Shipping and Transport

Freeth, G

Minister for Territories

Barnes, CE (CP)

Minister for Civil Aviation

Swartz, RWC

Minister for Immigration

Snedden, BM

Minister for Health

Forbes, AJ

Minister for Air

Howson, P

Minister for Customs and Excise

Anderson, Senator McC

Minister for Repatriation

McKellar, Senator GC (CP)

Minister for Housing

Rankin, Senator AJM

Minister for the Army

Fraser, JM

Minister for Works

Kelly, CR

Attorney-General

Bowen, NH

Minister for the Navy

Chipp, DL

Minister for the Interior

Nixon, PJ (CP)

37. Gorton Ministry (LIB-CP Coalition) 10.1.1968 - 28.2.1968

Following the disappearance of Prime Minister Holt on 17.12.1967, the Liberal Party chose Senator Gorton as its leader, and he was sworn in as Prime Minister on 10.1.1968. Prime Minister Gorton resigned his Senate seat on 1.2.1968, in order to seek election to the House of Representatives. Between 1.2.1968 and his election for the Division of Higgins on 24.2.1968, Mr Gorton was a member of neither House but, as permitted by the Constitution, was able to remain Prime Minister.

On 5.12.1972, following the general election on 2.12.1972, the Governor-General called upon the Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Labor Party, Mr EG Whitlam, to form a government. Mr Whitlam was sworn in as Prime Minister and the Deputy Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Labor Party, Mr LH Barnard, was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister. Pending a meeting of the Parliamentary Caucus of the ALP to elect the full ministry, an interim ministry was formed with Mr Whitlam and Mr Barnard sharing between them the administration of the various government departments.

On 11.11.1975 the Governor-General withdrew the commission of the Hon. EG Whitlam
as Prime Minister and appointed the Hon. JM Fraser to hold the office of Prime Minister until a general election was held.

Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Public Service Industrial Matters

Willis, R

Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the

Status of Women

Ryan, Senator SM

Minister Assisting the Prime Minister

Evans, Senator GJ

Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Bicentennial

Cohen, B

Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Youth Affairs

Dawkins, JS

Deputy Prime Minister

Bowen, LF

Attorney-General

Bowen, LF

Vice-President of Executive Council

Bowen, LF

Minister for Industry, Technology and Commerce

Button, Senator JN

Minister Assisting the Minister for Industry, Technology and Commerce

Jones, BO

Minister for Community Services

to 16.2.1987

Grimes, Senator DJ

from 16.2.1987

Hurford, CJ

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations

Willis, R

Treasurer

Keating, PJ

Minister Assisting the Treasurer

Hurford, CJ

Special Minister of State

to 16.2.1987

Young, MJ

from 16.2.1987

Tate, Senator MC

Minister for Finance

Walsh, Senator PA

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Hayden, WG

Minister Assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs

Evans, Senator GJ

Minister for Education

Ryan, Senator SM

Minister for Resources and Energy

Evans, Senator GJ

Minister for Trade

Dawkins, JS

Minister for Primary Industry

Kerin, JC

Minister for Housing and Construction

West, SJ

Minister for Defence

Beazley, KC

Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence

Brown, JJ

Duffy, MJ

Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs

to 16.2.1987

Hurford, CJ

from 16.2.1987

Young, MJ

Minister for Social Security

Howe, BL

Minister for Transport

Morris, PF

Minister for Aviation

Morris, PF

Minister for Sport, Recreation and Tourism

Brown, JJ

Minister for Health

Blewett, N

Minister for Science

Jones, BO

Minister for Territories

Scholes, GGD

Minister for Communications

Duffy, MJ

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Environment

Cohen, B

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs

Holding, AC

Minister for Veterans Affairs

Gietzelt, Senator AT

Minister for Local Government and Administrative Services

Uren, T

51. Hawke Ministry (ALP) 24.7.1987 - 4.4.1990

On 24.7.1987, the third Hawke Ministry implemented a two-level ministerial structure, with distinctions drawn between senior and junior ministers. This arrangement has been continued by subsequent ministries.

Minister for the Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories

Kelly, RJ

Minister for the Arts, Tourism and Territories

Simmons, DW

Minister for Industrial Relations

Cook, Senator PFS

Minister for Administrative Services

Bolkus, Senator N

53. Keating Ministry (ALP) 20.12.1991 - 27.12.1991

The Hon. RJL Hawke's resignation as Prime Minister took effect on 20.12.1991, when the Hon. PJ Keating was sworn in as Prime Minister. The first Keating Ministry was formed with remaining ministers. The second Keating Ministry was sworn in on 27.12.1991.